Cadiz is a city of about 124,000 although, by the time that you are reading this, it may have dropped further. Unlike most cities in France which have had stable populations for the past 45-50 years, this city in the Andalusia region of Spain has been declining in residents. In 1999, the city had about 142,500 people and has been declining in population each year since that time. I cannot make heads or tails of it as Cadiz has many wonderful things going for it.

The city is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, having been founded by the Phoenicians so it could be as old as 3,000 years old. It does not seem to have fallen under the sway of the ancient Greeks, but it did fall to the Carthaginians (now Tunisia) which in turn fell to the ancient Romans. From 500 to 1,000 years later, it was under the sway of Muslims. It then had a renaissance when Christopher Columbus sailed from Cadiz on this second and fourth voyages.

The sights

From Cadiz train station or the relatively near airport (about 35 minutes away by car) you can car hire to see many wonderful sights. Many of these sights have the word “Plaza” in them as there are numerous such places including Plaza de San Juan de Dios (incorporating the Old Town Hall), Plaza de Espana (housing the monument to the constitution of 1812), and--my personal favorite--Plaza de San Francisco (where the San Francisco Church and Convent is located) as San Francisco is my hometown.

Many of the other sights are similar buildings and architecture including a Roman theater, the Pylons of Cadiz, and the old city walls. The city walls abut many modern homes so it is as if you are literally living in history. Another sight is the sight. It is the event of Carnaval, one of the oldest and best in Spain, and considered the third-largest such celebration in the world. It is held in February of each year.

Be aware that even though (or perhaps especially if) you are renting a car, it may be difficult to get around. Although the population is slowly declining, the density, especially of the older city, is quite high.